Things To Do

Our recommendations for days out and places to eat in Devon and Cornwall within a 30 mile radius of the old station

The Royal Inn at Horsebridge

The Royal Inn at Horsebridge

A lovely 15th century historic local pub serving lunch and dinner. Booking recommended

  • Free car park
  • Dog friendly
Fierek Pottery

Fierek Studio Pottery

Rob Fierek has been making pots in the Tamar Valley for over three decades.

He makes a wide range of functional and decorative stoneware and is known to have an eye for a good curve. Expert thrower and modeller, he is also very creative with his decorative techniques and often displays a fine sense of humour.

The Tamar Valley visitor Centre

The Tamar Valley Visitor Centre

The centre has a wealth of books and maps and the website provides details of events throughout the year, most notably walks in the local area. It’s worth checking their website or popping in during your stay if you need some inspiration for places to visit or things to do in the locality

  • Open Monday-Friday 10am-4pm
  • Free parking
National Trust Cotehele House, Gardens and Grounds

National Trust Cotehele House, Gardens and Grounds

(pronounced ‘COAT HEEL’),

We recommend visiting the National Trust website to plan your visit

Cotehele house, river quay, watermill, estate workshops, glorious woodland and gardens are highly recommended. It’s especially worth a visit at Christmastime to see the famous dried flower garland (you need to book your viewing slot in advance of your visit)

With more than 1000 acres to explore around Cotehele alone it’s a rambler, dog walker and nature lover’s paradise. There are some wonderful walks around this area too, the Cotehele circular walk (featured on National trust’s website) or the iwalkcornwall Cotehele to Calstock walk along the river is highly recommended

There is a national trust gift shop and gallery on site worth visiting too, they always have interesting pieces and local artwork

  • Parking £3 per day or free to National Trust members
  • Dogs are not allowed in Cotehele House but they are allowed (on a lead) in the grounds, the visitor facilities, the Barn restaurant and the Edgcumbe tea room
The Rising Sun Inn, Gunnislake

The Rising Sun Inn, Gunnislake

A small 17th century local pub serving lunch and dinner and often has live music and open mic nights. Booking recommended

  • Free parking
  • Dog friendly
Calstock

Calstock

A stunning place to visit, an important river port since Saxon times, with its tall white houses appearing to cling to the steep Cornish bank of the River Tamar

The village is dominated by the impressive grade 2 listed viaduct, completed in 1908 and the largest in Britain to be constructed of concrete blocks. Today it serves the Tamar Valley branch line from Plymouth to Gunnislake, a trip that’s well worth taking… In the last century Calstock railway served the local area of intense industrial and mining activity in a parish renowned, at the time, for its cultivation of fruit and flowers

Calstock boasted a rich mining history going back to medieval times and Silver, arsenic, copper and tin have all been mined in the locality

The village has a small active boat yard, as the river is navigable, at high tide, from Plymouth which is fourteen miles upriver. The village has some interesting artisan shops and a lovely pub

National Trust Cadsonbury woods and hill fort

National Trust Cadsonbury Woods and Hill Fort

This site is free to visit and enter

Carved out from a natural hill, this single ditched Iron age hill fort, which Is a scheduled ancient monument, was created between the 5th and 3rd centuries BC. It probably served as a beacon site as well as a protect dwelling. At the summit of the hill fort, look out for dark green fritillary butterflies in the grass and health land. Meadow pipits, snipe and yellow hammer birds are also regular visitors

The woods at Cadsonbury is a great place to visit at any time in any season. In the sunshine the woodland paths along the River Lynher (pronounced LINE-ER) offer cooling shade. There’s an abundance of flora and fauna for walkers to enjoy throughout the year. Look out for otter, salmon, and birds including dippers and kingfishers which can be spotted along the river. Grayling butterflies as well as the predator hornet robberfly. The area is also home to hazel dormice. If your dogs like to splash around in the water, there’s plenty of opportunity for them to do so here

Highly recommended for Photographers, nature lovers, walkers and dog walking

  • Free parking
  • Dog friendly
The Tamar Inn, Calstock

The Tamar Inn, Calstock

A pub and restaurant in a stunning location, regular live music events and a monthly quiz night, check their website for events. Booking recommended

  • Ample parking in Calstock village car park
  • Dog friendly
Tamar Trails centre and location of the Great Devon Consuls mines

Tamar Trails centre and location of the Great Devon Consuls mines

We recommend contacting the centre or visiting the website before your visit especially outside of the summer season. Recommended for walking, running, biking (you can hire a bike if you don’t have your own with you) tree surfing (if you are not afraid of heights or… maybe it’s time to conquer the fear?), archery or canoeing (seasonal)

Please note we have tried and tested the tree surfing and the canoeing on the Tamar River from Cotehele both activities are fabulous fun and come highly recommended

  • Beech cafe at the Tamar Trails Centre (opening seasonal)
  • Parking £2 per day
  • Dog friendly
St Mellion Hotel, golf club and spa

St Mellion Hotel, Golf Club and Spa

Two challenging golf courses, gym and spa, restaurant and bar, tried, tested and recommended

Booking recommended

  • Free parking
  • Dogs not permitted